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Common Application Shut Down on July 12

If you’re a rising high school senior, you’ve probably been thinking about the upcoming college application cycle. You may even be thinking about getting a head start on your applications during your summer vacation. Getting started early is a great idea, but it’s important to keep in mind the Common Application shut down and re-launch dates.

The Common Application will be shutting down at 11:59 PM on July 12, and re-launching on August 1. All applicant data will be cleared from the system, and any work done on your application before then will be lost. You can still begin your application early, as long as you take the right steps to save your work.

The simplest option is to wait to create your Common Application account and begin filling it out after August 1. That way, your work won’t be lost, and you’ll still be starting well in advance.

If you really want to get started right away and not wait until August 1, you can – but be sure to download a PDF version of your work by using the Preview function. That’s the only way you’ll be able to keep a record of your work once the Common Application shuts down. Then, when the application re-launches on August 1, you’ll be able to transfer your saved answers into the new form.

And remember – you can always work on your Personal Statement and brainstorm essay ideas without logging in to the Common Application at all. The new essay questions for 2013-2014 are publicly available at CommonApp.org.

So despite the Common Application shut down on July 12, you can still get a head start on your applications. Whichever option you choose – waiting until August 1, saving a PDF version of your work, or simply thinking about essay ideas in the next couple of weeks – starting early can help alleviate much of the stress of the college application process later this fall.